Work Text:
Parfait’s voice wouldn’t come out today. She wasn’t ill, no– rather, it felt like something was preventing her from speaking at all. She didn’t have a single desire to say a thing, feeling as if something within her chest was restrained. Rather than worry upon waking, she squinted at the tiles on the ceiling. She could hardly see them without her glasses, but she had studied them plenty of times with Cocoa laying on her chest. In short, it felt as if it weren’t that different of a morning.
Speaking of Cocoa, she became conscious of the lack of warmth beside her. Sitting up in the mess of blankets, she glanced over. She couldn’t quite make out many of the details she was seeing, but even someone totally blind could notice that she was alone.
Where..? Still rather groggy from just waking, she slid on her glasses and reached for her phone.
I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to tell you good morning! She read in her notifications, relief washing over her. My interview was a couple hours earlier than I’d thought! I’ll be back soon to enjoy our off day.
no worries! Parfait responded, not noticing how she was an hour late. i can get brunch going, it should still be good by the time you get home.
Brunch…. The thought of it instantly drew her attention to the twinge in her stomach. She had always been the type to eat first thing in the morning, usually rising around eight. Ten-thirty, and not a thing..?
Holy hell, she was hungry.
In you go, Parfait thought to no one but herself. The muffin pan gave a clatter-clatter as she slid it into the oven, unable to keep herself from smiling. Cupcakes had always been one of her favorite things to make, deeming that muffins weren’t too far off. If anything, they were easier! Admittedly, they were a lot more unique in taste as well. Cocoa wasn’t here to lick the spoon, so Parfait had to pick up the slack.
Banana muffins were a great choice, even if they were impulsive. They were as lightly sweet as the sun filtering through the windows, comforting as a blanket around her shoulders. Setting a timer on her phone, the bell charm on it gave a jingle. It had faded into something familiar to Parfait, though it did draw quite a bit of attention at some of the worst times. The charm beside it, though…
Cocoa had given her it. It was a little guitar shaped thing, albeit a bit off. Cocoa wouldn’t have been able to see in it what Parfait did, but the two deemed it adorable nonetheless. It was a sweet reminder of the love of her life, as adorable and dorky as she.
To pass the time as she worked around, Parfait found herself turning on the radio that sat on the corner of the counter. Cocoa liked to use it more than she did– Parfait had more specific music tastes, while Cocoa just liked to listen to whatever was popular. The echoing silence faded with the crackles and pops of it adjusting, a sweet song floating through the air in due time. Parfait felt her shoulders relax near-instantly, inaccurately humming along to a song she didn’t know. It was the most she could muster.
The song would soon be accompanied by harmonies of dishes being washed. She rinsed the bowl she mixed the batter with, watching the residue disappear down the drain. The spoon was next, then the measuring cups. Before she knew it, she was already rinsing the sink out, dripping dishes sitting in the seldom-loaded dishwasher.
Now.. she didn’t quite plan what else would be going with brunch. What do people even eat alongside muffins? She made rounds throughout the kitchen scanning cabinets, the fridge, the freezer.
Eggs? No, who ate banana nut muffins with eggs? Sausage? They didn’t have any. Pancakes? Too similar.. She furrowed her brows. This was the hardest she’d thought of anything in quite a long time. Cocoa was definitely the better chef, especially when improvising. Parfait was.. well, happy to be there!
I’ve gotta prove myself, here, she thought, scanning over the kitchen once more. This is a test from the Divine, and if I fail…
..Cocoa will have to eat something she doesn’t like! What a terrible fate..
I won’t let that happen, Parfait continued within her mind! Her eyes rested upon the bag of apples on the counter, an idea springing into her head. Quickly, she opened the fridge again, crouching down to the fruit drawer.
Blueberries, strawberries, grapes.. Ah, and a leftover kiwi! She brightened immediately. Following along, she sourced a can of pineapples, as well as a couple of baby mandarins. She couldn’t quite find any mangoes in their kitchen, nor could she find blackberries or raspberries (she had eaten them the day before). This array.. it would have to do! Even if no one was to see it but the swaying grasses outside the window, she formed a proud smile. It lightened her heart and got her mind racing with all sorts of arrangements.
Swiping a knife and a cutting board, she turned the radio up and got to work.
I'm on the way! Parfait's phone read, sitting untouched for an unusual amount of time. The kitchen had eventually grown empty, clattering and chopping fading away. The dishwasher was running, the sound reminiscent of peaceful rain and morning dew. The radio had been left on, the volume muffled with the sound of the dishwater. Parfait had taken a shower, now properly cleaned up and in comfortable clothes that weren't slept in. She found herself rather warm in the cool home, nestled into the corner of their couch.
Perfect! every note read in the rhythm game she was playing, Switch decorated with a sparkly case. Everything about it screamed Parfait, but Cocoa was more likely to be seen using it. Parfait wasn't as much of a gamer as she initially believed, the console quickly fitting better as a general item in the house. She liked to lay on Cocoa and feel the pressure of the controllers on her back as she played, half-listening to the sounds from the speakers and half drifting to sleep. She could only hope that their night would end up in that direction, though any time with Cocoa at all would be rendered delightful.
And that was when she heard the keys at the door.
Parfait was sitting up before she even registered them, her game paused and Switch on the coffee table. She was peeking up above the back of the couch, eyes locked on the front door. She was reminiscent of a shark waiting to attack, peering over for...
The doorknob jiggled. The door eased open.
Cocoa looked great in the sundress she'd worn out, but even better when her eyes met Parfait's and she erupted into a bright smile. They hadn't properly seen each other all day, Parfait's heart skipping a beat as she entered the kitchen to properly greet her.
"Hey, you," Cocoa started, slipping off her shoes and kissing her on the cheek. She had to stretch a bit on her toes to properly reach her, Parfait standing as still as possible to ensure she felt every moment of it. When she didn't receive a reply, she continued with, "Quiet day?"
Parfait nodded. Cocoa's smile didn't falter. She knew of her 'quiet days', when she typically didn't want to speak and went for most (if not all of) the day without saying so much as a word. She never questioned it, not once. It was another part of Parfait, something she had grown accustomed to. It helped silences grow less awkward with time. Just each other's presence could make their hearts dance, twirling about the stage.
She kissed her back before, without warning, heading to the fridge. It gave a squeaking sound as she pulled it open, sliding two bowls onto the counter and pouring some sweet tea she'd already made. Cocoa could only feel her heart flutter, watching as she made her way around to organize.
"What's all this about?" The question wasn't answered, as expected. Before she knew it, there was an arrangement, Parfait looking at her with bright eyes.
Parfait had made a bright and beautiful fruit salad for them to share. It was well-mixed, every color holding its own against the others. It felt like the incoming summer; that was Parfait's magic, wasn't it? Even with haphazardly cut fruit and dorky looking muffins, Cocoa could feel a bright sense of hope. Anything she created was capable of invoking such a feeling, whether it be on stage, on paper, or from the fridge.
"Oh, goodness," Cocoa started, pulling her into the second hug of the day. "This looks amazing! When did you learn how to cook? ..Er, not that you couldn't, before!" Parfait stifled a laugh in response, sliding out forks from a drawer under the counter. She'd been proud of it long enough, having taken all sorts of pictures. She'd been hungry for even longer, holding off to wait for Cocoa. There was only so much that she could take, darn it..!
In time, the dishwasher stopped, letting the radio play much more clearly. A song as sweet as the fruit salad before them sounded, carrying through the air like wisps of magic. Rather than chatter, the house was filled with the air of Parfait’s own voice in her newest song. She beamed . She hadn’t spoken a word today, but that was fine. One way or another, Cocoa got to hear her voice. She got to hear the softest of lyrics, the way she danced around an anonymous love.
It was dedicated to a love that sat across from her. It was dedicated to a love that wore chiffon dresses and lilies in her hair. It was dedicated to a love that would fill in the blank notes when she felt she could no longer sing. To the sun, her clouds, her warm flowing grasses. To love itself, to polished mirrors and couches never empty.
It was dedicated to a love that enjoyed banana nut muffins and fruit salad, even if Parfait was a mediocre chef at best.